Francis Bedford's photographs of North Wales: Selection and interpretation

Abstract

Abstract Francis Bedford (1816–1894) was one of the most respected photographers of the British landscape in mid-nineteenth century England. Although he photographed extensively throughout Great Britain, North Wales was one of his favourite regions. The photographs taken there are representative of Bedford's work as a whole, and an analysis of this group contributes to the understanding of how and why Bedford selected specific sites, how he interpreted them technically and aesthetically, and what they may have meant to a contemporary audience. When viewed in a larger context, this analysis also clarifies Bedford's links with traditional landscape painting in theory and practice and his place in landscape photography at the middle of the century.